Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of cells (endometrial cells) outside the uterus. It is one of the leading causes of pelvic pain in women and can also cause other symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and infertility. If you have pelvic pain, heavy bleeding or other symptoms, it is important to visit your OBGYN to get a proper diagnosis as these same symptoms can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health problem.

Once your diagnosis of Endometriosis has been confirmed, your OBGYN can then recommend the most appropriate treatment. When recommending treatment for Endometriosis, your doctor will consider the frequency and severity of your symptoms, your medical history and more. Current treatments for Endometriosis include a variety of different hormonal and non-hormonal medications, Hydrothermal Ablation (HTA) and surgery. In cases where the symptoms are frequent and severe or are causing other problems such as Infertility, surgery may be performed to remove the excess tissue that is growing outside of the uterus.  In this case, minimally invasive techniques are typically used to achieve effective results with fewer complications and shorter recovery times.

Many progressive Obstetrics and Gynecology practices are using currently using da Vinci® Robotic Surgery to treat Endometriosis. Even more recently, physicians have started using FIREFLY fluorescence imaging in conjunction with the da Vinci® Robot to surgically treat Endometriosis.  This imaging capability allows physicians to better identify patients with Endometriosis and remove more disease as it improves detection of lesions that are not as obvious with traditional laparoscopy and open techniques.

If you have tried to manage your Endometriosis symptoms using non-surgical treatments and have not been able to get relief from your pain and other symptoms, maybe it is time to consider minimally-invasive Endometriosis surgery. If so, talk to your OBGYN about your options and about how da Vinci® Robotic surgery combined with FIREFLY fluorescence imaging can be used to help you find long-term relief.